Step-by-step device



Feb. 24, 1931. E. c. LE FRANols 1794234 STEP-BY-STEP DEVICE Filed oct. 12. 1.927

Inventor: Edmond Charles I e FIP-ancouq Hts Attorney.

Patented Feb. 24, 1931 UNrren srarss PATENT eri-*ice EDMOND CHARLES LE FRANCOIS, OF CLAMART, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL l ELECTRC COlTIPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK` s'rnr-BY-s'rnr DEVICE Application led Qctober 12, 1927, Serial No.' 225,782, and in France November 2, 1926.

The present invention relates to v devices operable step-by-step, through a series of delinite positions and relates more particularly to improvements in electrical controllers of the type such as are ordinarily used in trolley cars and the like. l

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide improved means for insuring the step-by-step opera-tion of controllers or other devices in one direction through their various operating positions while permitting free and unrestrained return movement thereof.

lVith the preferredform of mechanism of the present invention the enforced step-bystep operation of the controller is obtained by means of a sliding finger which preferably is carried by the operating .handle of the controller and is guided between a double row of 2o stationary stops arranged soas to temporarily block further rotation of the controller handle at the end of each step. The arrangement of the linger and stops, however, is such that kthe controller always is free for movement in the return direction.

The arrangement of the linger and stops will be better understood from the following drawing in which Fig. 1 illustrates a controller handle provided with a step-by-step 3o latching mechanism in accordance with the present invention, certain parts of the handle being broken away in order to more clearly reveal the detailed construction of the stepby-step mechanism; Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the stationary stops with which the locking mechanism carried by the handle 4cooperates to assure stepby-step movement of the handle in one direction and free movement thereof in lthe other iii direction. v v

InFig. 1 the controller handle 10 is provided With a hand operating knob 11 and is suitably secured to the rotatable operating shaft 12 of the controller 13. The detailed 3 construction of the controller is not of the essence of the present invention and only the .top -portion thereof has been'shown for the sake of clarity. The controller handle10 is,

in-accordance with the usua'l practice,'form ed 5:; inthe shape of a channel-providinga hollow central space within which the improved stepby-step latching mechanism 111 readily may be mounted. As shown in Fig. 1, the latch mechanism 14- comprises a shaft'l which is free to' reciprocate in the bearings 16 and 17 mounted respectively in the cross-webs 18 and 19 extending between the channel sides of the handle 10. A sliding member 20 carries the locking finger 21 and is mounted upon the shaft 15. The locking finger 21, preferably is of prismatic form, as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 2.

Each of the bearings 16 and 17 is mounted in the corresponding webs 18 and 19 so as to permit movement thereof in the axial direction of the shaft 15. Thus the bearings 16 and 17 serve as spacing elements to maintain the sliding member 2O carrying the locking pin 21 inthe central position between the ends of stops 22 and 23 provided on top of controller 13, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus in case the pin 21 is moved to the left so as to engage with the bearing 16, the bearing exerts pressure upon the collar 24 which is secured to the left-hand end of the shaft 15 and thereby compresses the spring 25 which is interposed between the end of the bearing 17 and the adjusting nuts 26. If, on the other hand, the pin 21 is moved to the right, this carries the sliding member 2O into engagement with the bearing 17 thereby again compressing the spring A25. In this way the spring 25 always serves to bring the finger 21 back into its normal position intermediate the ends of stops 22 and 23. e

As indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 2, the locking member 21 is arranged to cooperate with a double row of angularly displaced stops 22, 22a, 22o, 23, 23a, 23?), which are mounted on top of the controller 13 in the path of movement of the locking linger so as to function in the following manner: The stops, 227 22a, 22?), each serve to guide the linger 21 into abutting engagement with the next adjacent stops in the other row. Thus whenthe handle 10 of the controller is operated in a clockwise direction as indicated yby the arrows, the finger 21 slides between the stops 22 and23. As the handle 10 is moved rapidly, the nger 21 is brought into abutting sov engagement with the end of the stop 23a, thus ctlectively arresting the further advancementY this movement the iinger 21 passes betweenV the stops 22a and 23o until it is arrested by striking` against the end ofthe stop 23o. Thus the advance ot handle 10 again is blocked and in order to continue its advancement the operator must again `decrease the pressure of the finger21 against the stop 23?) in order that the iinger 110 may return to the normal midposition. The stepby-step advancement of the handle lO'may be continued in a similiar manner with any number of additional stops not shown in theY drawing'.

Thus it will be seen that it is impossible to pass rapid-ly through more' than one step of the controller and that thev operator is thus constrained by the improved'. mechanism ofthe presentinvention to mark thesteps. lith the prismatic form of the linger 21 andv the angular arrangement of they stops indicated' in Fig; 2 it will be apparent that the handle 10 always is free for movement in the reverse direction. This is due to the fact that the inger 21 runs freely on the outside of the stop 22, 22a andv 22?), similar to a ratchet wheel and thus permits the controller handle to. be brought back rapidly into-its initial position.

It will be observed that the handle 10 is pro vided' on its upper side with a' he'adedbolt 2? which is capable of slidiii'ig inthe slot 28 located above the shaft 15. The bolt 15 is provided with a: spring pressed. button 29 having the lower end of suitable form: to fit into either ot' the two recesses: 30 and 31.

- 21 and-hence has no action'thereon. It, on

the other hand', the bolt 27! is moved intothe right-hand: positionl the head of the bolt? engagesfwith theshoulder 32 formed oni top olf the sliding member 20, thus. forcing. themember 20, together with? the1 finger 211, to; the right so as to' carry the linger' 213I entirely out tective resistance usually connected in series with the motors preferably is short-circuited as rapidly as possible when the counter electromotive force on the motor equals the line potential.

Vhile the improved step-by-steplatching mechanism of the invention has A been described as applied to the handle of a railway controller, it will be evident that the mechanism can beapplied with equal advantage to other devices sucl'r as automatic motor starters and the like. Moreover, various changes in the detailed construction of the apparatus will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope'o the invention. I

`What Iclaim; as new and des-ire to secure by Letters Patent ol? the United States,

is l

1i. The combinationot a device having a movable member operable throughI aseries of positions, a' relativemovable member slidably connected with the first movable member `iter movement between two. posit-ions thereon, a row oli Aangl'ila-r'ly displaced elementsl disposed*V in the patlr of movement of said; relatively movable member for effecting movement thereof to one oli said positions upon movement of the first member in' one direction between saidA positions and to the other of said positionsr upon movement of the first member in the other direction between said positions, and' a series of stops disposed to bexsuccessively engaged' upon movement of the second member to' said one of said. positions 'thereby to insure step-by- 'stepr movement of the lirst member in said one direction:between: said: positions.

2. The combinationy ofa device having a movable member operable each way through a series ofV positions, a relatifvely vmovable member slidably connected with the lirst movable member for corresponding movement each way therewith and relative transverse movement, and cooperating rows ol angularly displaced' guides and stops-disposed iinl the path ot' movement off' said? relatively movable member withy each guide arranged to guideI the relatively movable' member transversely into abutting engagement with the nextl adjalcent stop to arrest the' lirst member in eachot a plurality off its" posi- 'tions upon movement thereof in= one direction: :uid to: guide the relatively movable member transversely out of engagement witha the; stopslto perm-it unrestrained? movementot tlle l-irst member in the" other direc'- titrr. u

The" combination: ot a; device having a member rotatable' @aan way tei-,iween.V a; fofi angel-fa 'fo itioiis,1a locking' meufr nrom'rtedA upon the first member for simul; "r afrg movem 'it each way Witi for' i'iiovem'e v pest-fees; a;-

V-11- direct-reir; messe rer iso biasing said locking member to an intermediate radial position, and a plurality of stationary elements located in the path of movement of said second member, one portion thereof being disposed to etlect movement ol' the locking member from said intermediate position to each ot said radial positions, and another portion being disposed to be successively engaged and disengaged when the locking member is operated to one ot' said radial positions thereby to insure step-by-step movement ot' the first member between adjacent angular positions.

4. The combination ot a device having a member operable between a plurality of definite positions, a locking finger slidably mounted upon said member for movement between a plurality oi positions, means for biasing said linger to an intermediate one of said positions, and a double row of angularly displaced stationary elements located in the path of movement ot' said locking iinger with the elements in one row arranged to operate the linger into a position to abut against the next succeeding element in the other row upon movement of the iirst member in one direction to each deiinite position and to operate the finger to a dii'erent position upon movement of the first member in the other direction and thereby permit unrestrained movement ot the member in the other direction.

5. The combination with a controller having a movable operating handle, of a stepby-step latching mechanism for the controller handle including a series of stops and a relatively movable member slidably mounted for movement transverse to the direction of movement of the controller handle, and a plurality of guides arranged in staggered relation to be successively engaged by said member to move the same out of latching relation with the said stops upon movement of the controller handle in one direction between adjacent operative positions.

G. The combination with a controller having a rotatable operating handle, of a locking mechanism for the controller handle comprising a finger slidably mounted for movement longitudinally of the controller handle between iixed limits, means for biasing the inger to an intermediate position between said limits, and cooperating rows of -guides and stops located in staggered relation to be successively engaged by the finger to insure step-by-step operation of the controller handle between adjacent positions in one direction and unrestrained operation thereotl in the other direction.

T. he combination of a controller having an operating handle rotatable through a plurality of definite operating positions, a locking mechanism for insuring a step-by-step operation of the controller handle to each of said operating positions in one direction and unrestrained movement of the controller handle in the other direction comprising a locking iinger slidaloly mounted upon the controller handle to permit movement thereof in a radial direction upon rotation ofthe handle, a vdouble row of cooperating elements mounted on top of the controller and each extending transverse the path of movement of said locking finger, with the ends of adjacent elements in each row in substantially circular alignment, means for biasing said locking finger to a position intermediate the ends of the elements in one of said rows, and means adjustable at will to maintain the locking linger out of engagement with the elements. Y

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 3rd day of August 1927.

LE FRANCOIS, EDMOND CHARLES. 

